Grate construction



July 26, 1932. J. A. FILBERT GRATE CONSTRUCTION File'd Dec. 28, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 1 n 6. i i/erl AWORNEY J. A. FILBERT 186857l GRATECONSTRUCTION Filed Dec, 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 26, 1932.

68 an iv -66 among/1 51:15 26, 1932, J. A. FELBERT GRATE CONSTRUCTIONFiled Dec. 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 26,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. FILBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISGRATE CONSTRUCTION Application filed December 28, 1928. Serial No.329,041.

This invention relates to certain novel imwherein a preferred form ofconstruction is provements in grate constructions, and has shown, and inwhich:

for its principal object the provision of an Fig. 1 is a plan view of apreferred form of improved construction of this character constructionfor my device;

which will be highly eflicient in use and eco Fig. 2 is a sideelevational view in which nomical in manufacture. certain parts arebroken away of the mecha- It is among the objects of my invention tonism illustrated in Fig. 1; provide a grate construction which will bear- Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of ranged such that it maybe formed in seca preferred form of construction of my detions that maybe arranged in any desired vice depicting the parts shown in Figs. 1 50relation so as to form the entire grate and 2; floor in a boiler orsimilar coal burning ap- Fig. l is a view substantially similar toparatus, although it is to be understood that Fig. 3, depicting theclinker breaking mechmy invention is not necessarily limited to theanisms in slightly elevated position; burning of coal since any otheranalogous F 1g. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4% depictfuel may be used inconnection therewith. ing the shaking and dumping mechanisms It isanother object of my invention to proin dumping position; vide a greatconstruction which will embody Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view ofthe an arrangement whereby the fire may be exmechanism illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2;

peditiously dumped from the grate. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail viewof a A further object of the invention is to an member employed to closeoff the section of range the grate in such a manner that it Wlll thegrate; embody means whereby clinkers and other Fig. 8 is a bottom planview;

undesirable formations may be broken up. Fig. 9 is a detail viewdepicting a latch .4 A still further object of the invention is tomechanism employed in the device;

provide a device of the above named charac- Fig. 10 is a sectionaldetail view taken subter wherein the fire may be agitated or shakenstantially on the line 1010 on Fig. 9; and when so desired. Fig. 11 is aview substantially similar A still further object of the invention is toto Fig. 9 depicting the parts in released pol provide a device of theabove named characsition. so

ter in such a manner that the clinker break- I In the drawings, whereinI have illustrated ing apparatus may be actuated independentthepreferred form of construction for my ly of the shaking and dumpingapparatus. device, 10 generically indicates the main A still. furtherobject of the invention is to frame of my device which includes sidememprovide a grate which will be arranged in hers 11 and 12 and endmembers 13 and 14,

such a manner that a portion thereof may be the end member 14 being inthe form of a broken off or rendered inactive in order thatsubstantially flat plate in the present in p the intensity of the fireand the fuel consumpstance, although in constructing the device tion maybe reduced under certain conditions, for arrangement interior-1y of aboiler whereas in mild weather. in a plurality of the frame members 10will A still further object of the invention is to be employed the endmember 14 will consist provide a grate construction in which draft of astrip substantially similar to the end may be expeditiously controlled.member 13 and the plate member 141 will be Other and further objectswill appear heredisposed extraneous the furnace which is the inafter.position intended in the present construc- The invention consists in thenovel c'omloition. nation and arrangement of parts to be here- In thepresent instance the side members inafter described and claimed. 11 and12 have a plurality of notches 15 pro- The invention will best beunderstood by vided therein which comprise relatively nar- D referenceto the accompanying drawings row slots terminating in rounded portionsat the inner ends thereof. The shakingand dumping members 16 have pinmembers 17 provided on the ends thereof which include flattened portions18. In assembling the device the shaking members are arranged in aposition such that the flattened portions on the pin members 17 may bepassed through the relatively narrow outer portions of the slots andafter the parts have been inserted the dumping members 16 are thendisposed such that the flattened portions 18 are arranged such thatpassage back through the narrow portions is prevented; that is, when therocking members 16 are disposed in operative position the pin members 17are then disposed in the rounded portions of the notches 15.

Depending downwardly from the dumping members 16 adjacent the side edgesthereof are bearing members or bosses 19 and 20. In the lower portion ofthe bearing members 19 enlarged bearing portions 21 are provided whichhave passages 22 extending therethrough. Pin members 23 are extendedthrough the passages 22 for apurpo-se to be set forth presently.Extending along so as to interconnect the various bearing members 19 ontheoutwardly disposed faces thereof 1s a bar 24. In .a sinnlar manner,bearing blocks 25 are provided in the lower ends of the bearing members20 which'have pas-.

sages 26 extending therethrough in which pins 27 are mounted. The plates28 are disposed on the outwardly disposed faces of the bearing members20 and have openings there in in which pins are extended and cotter pins29 or analogousv devices are employed for preventing displacement of thebars from the pins. Similarly, the pins 23 extend through openings inthe bars 24 and cotter pins 30 prevent displacement of these bars fromthe pins.

' On the inwardly disposedfaces of the bearing portions 21 link members31 are arranged and the .pin members 23 are extended through openings inthese link members. These links 31 are retained in position through themedium of cotter pins 32 or analogousdevices. Similarly, links 33 arearranged in abutment with the inner faces of the bearing blocks 25 andthe pins2 7'are extended therethrough and said links are'held 'ments 39extend so as to'be disposed in the branch slots 36, the clinker breakermeans being thus arranged in trees. Depending downwardly from theclinker breaking members 37 are substantially U-shaped portions 40 and41. A link member 42 is pivotally connected in the portion 40 and thelink mem: ber 43 is pivotally connected in the U-shaped portion 41. Asclearly illustrated in Figs. '3 and 4 the free ends of the links 42 and31 are pivotally connected together as indicated at 44. Similarly, thefree ends of the links 43 and 33 are pivotally connected together asindicated at45 (Fig. 2). Intermediate the ends of the link 42 one end ofa link 46 is pivotally attached. Intermediate the ends of the link 31 alink/17 is pivotally attached. A bar 48 extends between the variouspivotal connections 44 and is pivotally connected at these points 44. A.bar 49 extends between the various pivotal connections 45 and ispivotally connected at these points. A bar 55 is provided and ispivotally connected to the pivotally connected ends of the links 46 and47. 14 bar 56 is pivotally connected to the free ends of the links 57and 58 which correspond to the links 46 and 47.

- tending studs 50 and 51 that are carried on thebars 48 and 49. Amember 59 is provided which includes a substantially U-shaped inner endportion that comprises arms 60 and .61. The inner ends of the arms 60are pivotally connected. at one of the pivotally con. 1 nected points ofthe arm and the arm 61 is preferably pivotally connected at acorresponding pivotally connected point. of the arm 56; The member 59preferably has a relatively small movement imparted thereto in a mannerset forth hereinafter, and the arm 52 is adapted to be moved arelatively great amount as compared to said member 59. When the arm 52is moved, movementis imparted to the links 42 and 31 from the arm 48acting through the arm 53 and to the links 33 and 43 through the arm 49which receives the motion from the arm 54. Inasmuch as the member 59 isintended to be moved only a slight amount, it is apparent that the arms'and 61 will move but a small amount. Similarly, the arms 55 and 56 willalso move but a small amount. Therefore, the links 46 and 47 and 57 and58 will tend to pivot about their pivotal connections -to theserespective arms as the links 42 and 31 and 43 and 33 are moved.Therefore, the angle between the links 42 and 31 and 43 and 33 will beincreased or decreased,

apparent that the movement to the first pin member 27 will betransmitted to the remaining pin members 27 through the bar 28. Inasmuchas both the bearing members 19 and 20 depend from the members 16, it isapparent that when movement is imparted to the various members 16through the bar 28 that the bearing members 19 will also beinterconnected through the bar 24 which engages the various pins 23. Themovement imparted to the link 62 will be such that it 7 will pivot themembers 16 about the studs 17 from the position illustrated in Fig. 3into the position illustrated in Fig. 5. It is therefore apparent thatthe grate floor Will be disposed at an angle and therefore the fire willbe dumped therefrom. \Vhen it is desired to shake or agitate the fire, avery slight movement will be imparted to the link 62 in order that themembers 16 will be moved but a relatively small amount. At the time thelink 62 is moved it isintended that both the members 52 and 59 bereleased. Therefore, the members 37 and the parts co-operating therewithwill move in conjunction with the parts 16. It is therefore apparentthat while the members 37 will be movable relative to the members 16,the members 16 are only moved when the parts 37 are moved therewith.

In order that the foregoing mentioned mo'vements will be properlycarried out, I provide the following lever construction. Depending fromthe plate 14 is a bearing member 63. A stud 64 is provided on thebearing member 63 and a lever 65 is pivotally mounted on the stud 64.The free end of the link 62 is pivotally connected to the lower end ofthe lever 65 as indicated at 66. Therefore, when a suitable implement ispressed upon the upper end of the lever 65 and the same is rocked aboutthe pivot 64 thereof. the

hereinbefore mentioned movement will be dog which is adapted to engagethe ratchet teeth 68 so as to hold the lever 69 against pivotal movementabout the stud 68a.

.As best illustrated in Fig. 1, the member 67 is adapted to have acentrally disposed slot 71 provided therein through which the lever 69is adapted to extend. The lever 65 is adapted to move along one side ofthe member 67. A substantially U-shaped bracket 72 is provided on themember 14 and a latching dog 73 is pivotally mounted therein. Thelatching dog 73 includes a lip 74 that is adapted to be disposed infront of the lever 65 in order to prevent forward movement thereof andso as to hold said lever 65 at the rear end of the slot 75 of the member14 through which it extends and when said lever is disposed in thisposition members 16 will be held substantially horizontal.

The member 52 includes an outwardly directed end portion 76 while themember 59 includes an end portion 77 that corresponds to the end portion76. On the lever 69 above the pivotal connection thereof 68a andpreferably at a relatively great distance therefrom, a pin member 78 isprovided in the end portion 76 in which the pin 78 is adapted to bedisposed. The slot 79 includes upwardly directed portion 80 that isadapted to be disposed from alignment with the major extent thereof andthe pin 78 is normally disposed in this portion. A pin 82 is providedadjacent the lower end of the lever 69 preferably in juxtaposition tothe pivotal connection 68a of said lever. A slot 83 is provided in theend portion 77 and includes an upwardly extending portion 84 that isnormally disposed from alignment with the major extent of the slot 83and the pin member 82 is normally disposed in this portion 84.

On the link 87 an enlarger portion or pad 85 is provided. Mounted overthe pad 85 is a plate 86 and this plate is secured to the pad by screws87a. The plate 86 is secured to the lever 69 on the side thereof againstwhich the end portions 76 and 77 bear. Disposed over the end portions 76and 77 to extend along the lever 69 bet een the pad 85 and th plate 86is a bar or arm 87. Lugs 88 and 89 are provided on the face of the bar87 disposed toward the end portions 76 and 77. The end portion 77includes a protruding portion 90 and when the end portions 76 and 7 7are locked the end portion 90 is disposed between the lugs 88 and 89.Lugs 91 and 92 are provided on the face of the arm 87 disposed towardthe end portion 76 and are adapted to receive between them this endportion An L-shaped bracket plate 93 is provided on the arm 87 and aspring member 94 extends between this L-shaped bracket 93 and a securingscrew 95 on the plate 86 and serves to hold the arm 87 in a positionsuch that the pin members 82 and 78 are disposed in the notches 84 and80. Mounted on the segmental member 67 adjacent the forward end thereofis a releasing dog 96. This mounting is ac complished by providing onthe releasing L the member 96 may roll.

be freed to move.

dog 96 bearing portions 97 and 98 about which The upper end of the arm87 is provided with a 11001; portion 99. A roller member 100 is providedon the inner end of the member 96 that is normally 1 disposed in thehook portion 99. By depressing the lip portion 101 on the member 96 themember 96 rolls about the bearing 96 and 98 thereof and the rollermember 100 engages the hook portion 99 moving the portions (6 and 77such that the slots 80 and 8e disengage the pins 7 8 and 82. Therefore,the members 52 and 59 are released and when-the lever is manipulated inthe manner set forth so as to move the members 16 which obviously movesthe members 37 therewith, the end portions 76 and 77 of the members 52and 59 will The slots 79 and 83 perunit the movemen relative to the pins78 and 82. However, when the foot'porti'on 101 is released the spring 95tends to urge the arm 87 such that the hereintofore mentioned lugs 88,89, 90, and 91 thereon act on the end portions 76 and 77 such that whenthe slots and 84- move into proper position they will again re-engagethe pins 78 and 82, and thus position the parts in the positiondepicteo'in Fig. 9. It has been set forth that the pin 82 is located ata point adjacent the pivoting points 68 of the levers 69 while the pin78 is preferably positioned a greater distance therefrom. Therefore,when the lever 69 is pivoted about the pivot 68a therefore relative tothe arcuate member 67, greater movement will be imparted to the endportion 76 than to the end portion 77, and therefore greater movementwill be imparted to the member 52 than to the member 59 for the purposewhich has been set forth hereintofore;

I have found it desirable to provide adj acent the end member 1 1 amember 102 which is intended to be movable in a manner substantiallysimilar to the member 16, but which in place of the openings 35 and 36merely has a plurality of transversely extending openings 103 providedtherein and this member 102 is not provided with clinker breakingconstruction. In order that the member 102 may be rocked, said memberbeing substantially mounted similar to the member 16, having studs 10%thereon similar to, the studs 17,

I provide on the under side thereof two lugs 105 which have link members106 pivotally connected to the lower ends thereof, the other ends of thelink members 106 being pivotally connected to the lugs depending fromthe member 16 juxtaposed thereto in the manner clearly set forth in Fig.5. v i 1 It is apparent that by causing the latch dog 7 O to engagedifferent of the teeth 68', the clinker breaking members may be disposedin different positions with respect to the open 'ings 35 and 36. Whenthey are elevated in the manner depicted in Fig. 4 they are in clinkerbreaking position, but by disposing openings and thusair passage may becon- 110 thereof will serve to close the openings 35 'member 16 I amenabled to control the amount of space bet-ween these members and thesetrolled, which V will obviously control the draft to the fire andtherefore regulate the burning thereof. p

As has been setforth, a' plurality of the frame members 10 are adaptedto be associated with each other to provide a grate for a boiler. Inmild weather it is sometimesdesirable that a portion of the grate beblocked out so as to prevent burning thereabove and thusconserve fuel.In order to accomplish this, I provide members 107 which are clearlydepicted in Fig. 7 V and which include a down- .wardly depending rib 109that is-adapted to be disposed in the. opening 35 when the member 107 isdisposed above the rockable member 16. Branch arms 110 are providedwhich correspond to the openings 36. By disposing the member 107suchthat the rib 108 is disposed in the openings 35 the portions 109 andand 36 and thus prevent passage therethrough. c In order to disposethese members 107 in position the members 37 are moved into theirlowermost position and the members 107 may be positioned through theusage of a hook in a manner well understood in the art. In order todisplace the members 107 the members 37 are moved into their uppermostposition which obviously forces the members 107 from position in theopenings 35 and .36, and they may be then withdrawn from the fire boxthrough the employment of a hook as is well understood. It is apparentthat as many of the members 107 as desired may be employed so as toblock out a portion ofeach of the openings 35 and 36 in each of theframe members 10 or if desired all-of the openings in a given section ofthe framemembers 10 may be blocked out.

If desired a notch 111 (Fig. 4) may be provided in the segmental member67 which is adapted to be engaged by the foot portion 112 of the latchmember 7 0so as to hold the mem bers 37 in their 'lowermostposition.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided agrate construction which is arranged such that a plurality of sectionsmay be provided so as to provide a grate construction of any desiredsize. Further, I have arranged this grate construction such that thefire may be expeditiously agi tated or shaken, and may be dumped when sodesired. Further, I have provided a construction. which will break upclinkers or otherundesirable formations and also a convent the fallingof fire or particles of fuel therethrough as occurs when the fire isfirst started. It is apparent that the device may be easily manipulatedand is arranged such that the control thereof may be entirely carriedout extraneous of the fire box with which it is associated. Further, thedevice is arranged such that a portion of the grate may be blocked offso as to reduce the fuel consumption when desired.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariations and modifications without departing from the spirit of theinvention. l, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Let ters Patent is:

1. A grate constructon comprising a frame, a plurality of dumpingmembers in said frame, said dumping members having longitudinallyextending slots provided therein and branch slots extending therefrom,clinker breaker means normally disposed below said slots and movablerelative to and through said slots, link constructions pivotallyconnected to said means, and means for imparting movement to said linkconstructions whereby said clinker breaker means will be moved throughsaid openings in a substantially vertical plane.

2. In a grate construction, a frame, a plurality of rockable membersmounted in said frame, said rockable members having lugs dependingtherefrom, means for interconnecting the lugs depending from therespective rockable members, means for imparting movement to saidconnecting means whereby said rockable members may be rocked, saidrockable members having openings provided therein, means movable withsaid rockable members for closing said openings, means for operatingsaid last named means including link members pivotally connectedthereto, and other link members pivotally connected to said movablemeans, means for interconnecting the free ends of said last mentionedlink members, a link member pivotally connected to said first named linkmembers intermediate the ends thereof, a link member pivotally connectedto said second named link members intermediate the ends thereof, meansfor pivotally connecting the free ends of said last named link members,and means for imparting movement to said link members connected to saidlink members at the pivotal connections of the free ends thereof.

3. A grate construction including rockable members having openingsprovided therein, members movable relative to said rockable membersthrough said openings, link members pivotally connected to said lastnamed members, said rockable members having bosses depending therefrom,other link members pivotally connected to the lower ends of said bosses,means for pivotally connecting the free ends of said link members, anoperating member pivotally connected to the said link members at thepivotal connections of the free ends thereof, other link memberspivotally connected to said first named link.

members movable relative to said rockable members through said openings,link members pivotally connected to said last named members, saidrockable members having bosses depending therefrom, other link memberspivotally connected to the lower ends of said bosses, means forpivotally interconnecting the free ends of said link members, anoperating member pivotally connected to said link members at the pivotalconnections of the free ends thereof, other link members pivotallyconnected to said first named and second named link members, means forpivotally connecting the free ends of said last named link members, asecond operating member connected to said last named link members at thepivotal connections thereof, a pivotally mounted lever, means forconnecting the free ends of said operating members to said lever tocause greater movement to be imparted to said first named operatingmember than to said second operating member, said connecting means beingso arranged that said operating members may be detached from said leverwhereby said operating members may be moved relative to said lever.

5. In a grate construction, a frame, a plurality of dumping memberspivotally mount ed on said frame, each having a longitudinally extendingslot provided therein and branch slots extending from both sidesthereof, clinker breaker means for each of said members, each of saidmeans consisting of a main longitudinal stem with branch projectionsextending from both sides thereof, normally disposed below andcorresponding with said slots, tiltable with said dumping members, andmovable upwardly through and above said slots, means including slide barand link structures for tilting said dumping members, and means formoving said clinker breaker means vertically through said slots.

6. In a grate construction, a plurality of dumping members each having alongitudinally extending stem slot and branch slots on both sidesthereof, means for tilting said dumping members, and means each includ-Ving portions adapted to project over and close said branch slots andeach including a portion removably insertible into one of said stemslots so that the last-named means may be supported by, and renderinactive, a predetermined number of said dumping members. v

7. In a grate construction, a plurality of dumping members each having alongitudi- "nally ext-ending stem slot and branch slots on bothsides'thereof, means for tilting said dumping members, clinker breaker"means normally disposed below, and movable through said slots andtiltable With said dumping members, and means each including portionsadapted to project over and close said branch slots and each including aportion removably insertible into one of said stem slots'so that saidlast-named means may be supported by, and render inactive, apredeterminednumber of said dumping members. In testimony whereof Iaifix my signature.

JOHN A. 7 FILE Ell-T.

